ISSN: 2320-5407 Int. J. Adv. Res.

13(02), 351-356

Journal Homepage: - www.journalijar.com

Article DOI: 10.21474/IJAR01/20384

DOI URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.21474/IJAR01/20384

RESEARCH ARTICLE
EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION OF AN ELECTROMAGNETIC JET AT THE OUTPUT OF A
RECTANGULAR WAVEGUIDE

A. Deubaibe1,2, M. Podda Abouna1.2, Y. Dagal Dari1, B. Mahamout Mahamat1 and B. Sauviac3

1. National Institut of Sciences and Technologies of Abeche, Chad.
2. University of N’Djamena, Chad.
3. Université Jean Monnet Saint-Etienne, CNRS, Institut d’Optique Graduate School, Laboratoire Hubert Curien
UMR 5516, F-42023, Saint-Etienne, France.
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Manuscript Info Abstract
……………………. ………………………………………………………………
Manuscript History This study explores the generation of electromagnetic jets using a
Received: 08 December 2024 PTFE-loaded rectangular waveguide with an optimally designed tip.
Final Accepted: 12 January 2025 Due to the complexity of the structure, an optimization study was
Published: February 2025 conducted to enhance computational efficiency while ensuring
accuracy. Two prototypes were fabricated and experimentally tested,
Key words:-
Rectangular WR90 Waveguide, with key measurement challenges successfully addressed. The results
Electromagnetic Waves, and Near-Field demonstrate that a PTFE-loaded waveguide can effectively generate an
Calibration, Photonic Jet, electromagnetic jet, paving the way for potential applications in high-
Electromagnetic Jet
resolution imaging, beam shaping, and advanced electromagnetic wave
control.
Copyright, IJAR, 2025,. All rights reserved.
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Introduction:-
Among non-destructive and contactless inspection techniques, near-field measurement in the microwave domain
enables the detection and characterization of small defects in materials and devices. Although the inspected areas are
significantly smaller than those in far-field methods, the dimensions of the defects sought can be smaller than the
wavelength, or in some cases, may exceed the diffraction limit.The principle of these techniques relies on the
collection of electromagnetic waves in close proximity to the devices under test using circular [1] or rectangular [2]
probes. They thus offer good spatial resolution and are particularly useful for applications such as surface state
measurement or the detection of surface and internal defects in materials, provided the materials allow
electromagnetic wave penetration.However, since the sample under measurement is placed very close to the probe,
this approach presents several challenges, including risks of damage due to contact with the surface and, more
importantly, diffraction and interference effects, which are of particular interest in this article.

An innovative solution, known as the photonic jet, was introduced by Chen et al. in 2004 [3]. This technique
leverages the interaction between light and a dielectric sphere to achieve near-field focusing, resulting in a full-width
at half-maximum (FWHM) smaller thanhalf a wavelength, thus overcoming the conventional diffraction limit [4].
This approach can then be used to perform measurements in an intermediate zone close to the near-field region.
Thus, this technology has been implemented in the microwave domain using a parallel plate waveguide [5-6], a horn
antenna [7], and a rectangular waveguide [8]. This latter structure is based on an open rectangular waveguide
extended by a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) extension, enabling the generation of what has been termed an
electromagnetic jet by generalizing the concept of the photonic jet [8]. This configuration concentrates the near-field
distribution near the extension, over a spatial region potentially smaller than the diffraction limit.

Corresponding Author:- A. Deubaibe 351

Address:- National Institut of Sciences and Technologies of Abeche, Chad.
ISSN: 2320-5407 Int. J. Adv. Res. 13(02), 351-356

In this article, we study the numerical and experimental validation procedures for the distribution of electromagnetic
fields in a region slightly beyond the near-field zone and demonstrate the possibility of generating an
electromagnetic jet in the microwave domain at 15 GHz using a rectangular waveguide equipped with a PTFE
extension.

Results and Discussion:-

Numerical Results
The structure consists of a WR90 waveguide equipped with a PTFE extension (Fig. 1a). The waveguide is excited at
15 GHz by the TE10 mode. The PTFE extension penetrates inside the waveguide and then tapers into a tip to create
effective impedance matching between the empty rectangular waveguide and the dielectric-filled waveguide.

A full-wave simulation of the structure and its radiation outside is performed using an electromagnetic simulator
based on the finite element method. To reduce the computational volume and avoid potential wave reflections at the
computational boundaries, absorbing layers known as Perfectly Matched Layers (PML) are applied at the limits of
the computational space. This technique is based on the impedance matching condition between two media with the
same refractive index, one of which is absorbing. This modeling method saves computational time by reducing the
volume to be discretized.Figure 1 illustrates the simulation results of the complete structure.

The rectangular structure is presented (Fig. 1a) with its free-space computational domain, represented by the outer
box in red dashed lines. Figure 1b shows the results obtained with simple free-space radiation conditions; a standing
wave regime is observed, which does not converge to the expected response. In contrast, Figure 1c, obtained with
PML for the same mesh, offers much better results. The analysis of Figure 1c allows for a correct visualization of
the field distribution outside the structure. A strong field concentration zone is observed at the output of the PTFE
tip. This focal zone is intense and narrow, smaller than the wavelength. The -3dB limit is indeed delimited by the
yellow contour (the total width of Figure 1c represents 4.75λ).

(a) (b) (c)

Fig.1:- Modelling a rectangular waveguide with a rectangular-section PTFE extension and its impedance
adaptation.(a) 3D structure bounded by Perfectly Matched Layers, (b) free-space distribution with simple
radiative condition and (c) with PML

Experimental Results
To validate the accuracy of the simulation results, the presented device was fabricated, and an experimental study
was conducted.

The measurement bench used (Fig. 2) to characterize the electric field distribution at the output of the PTFE
extension consists of the rectangular waveguide equipped with its PTFE extension on the emitting side and a field
probe made from an open empty rectangular waveguide on the receiving side. Both the PTFE-loaded waveguide and
the probe are connected to a Vector Network Analyzer (VNA). On the emitting side, the loaded waveguide is fixed

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on a stationary support, and on the receiving side, the probe is positioned on a two-axis robotic arm, allowing for the
probing of the desired planes at the output of the PTFE extension.

Fig. 2:- Experimental setup for mapping the electromagnetic field generated at the end of the PTFE extension of the
rectangular waveguide. (a) coaxial cable (b) WR/Coaxial transition (c) rectangular waveguide (d) PTFE tip (e) open
rectangular guide probe (f) two-axis robotic arm (g) VNA (h) Control PC.

The VNA is first calibrated at the end of the coaxial cables to minimize losses and errors in the measurement
system.The prototype, labeled as Prototype No. 1 and depicted in Figure 3a, was subsequently tested on the
measurement bench. The results of this test, shown in Figure 3b, illustrate the measurements obtained during the
scanning of the space at the output of the PTFE tip by the probe. A standing wave is clearly visible, superimposed
on the field generated by the device, which degrades the experimental acquisition of the electric field distribution at
the output.
Flange

PTFE tip

Waveguide
(a) (b)
Fig. 3:- (a) 3D view of Prototype No. 1, illustrating the waveguide equipped with a flange terminated by a PTFE
tip.(b) Measurements of the normalized electric field intensity distribution (|E|²) in free space at the output of the
rectangular waveguide with a PTFE extension, for a frequency of 15 GHz.

We then sought the elements that could be the origin of this phenomenon. As seen in Figure 3a, the connecting
flange of the rectangular waveguide is bulky and significantly protrudes from the PTFE tip. To improve the result,
the flange was cut to obtain prototype N°2, as depicted in Figure 4a. The mapping of this second prototype was then
performed, and the results are presented in Figure 4b. These results show that the standing wave has been
significantly reduced compared to prototype N°1. A spatial distribution closer to the simulation results is now

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observed. However, parasitic phenomena remain, notably a split focal zone, indicative of destructive interference at
the center of the intended focus.

Tip
Waveguide

(a) (b)
Fig. 4:- (a) 3D view of Prototype No. 2 illustrating the waveguide without a flange, terminated by a PTFE tip.
(b) Measurements of the normalized electric field intensity distribution (|E|²) in free space at the output of the
rectangular waveguide with a PTFE extension, for a frequency of 15 GHz.

These perturbations originate from the measurement bench environment. To eliminate them, we implemented a
calibration method for external elements, inspired by techniques used in far-field measurements.We opted for a TRL
calibration [9] based on the Thru (a direct connection between the two ports), Reflect (a short-circuit measurement
using a metal plate), and Line (a transmission line of a determined length) standards. This method requires several
steps, illustrated in Figure 5.

First, we measure the reflection coefficients (Reflect), which involves placing a short circuit (in this case, a large
metal plate) between port 1 and port 2 (Fig. 5a). The metal plate is placed at a distance a, corresponding to the focus
of the electromagnetic jet. Subsequently, port 2 port 2 is calibrated using the same short circuit(Fig. 5b). The next
step involves establishinga direct connection between the two ports, as illustrated in Figure 5c. Finally, in the Line
step (Fig. 5d), ports 1 and 2 are positioned at a distance of 2a plus a quarter of the wavelength (λ/4), which is
determined by the operating frequency.

a a a

2a+1/4λ

Fig.5:- Calibration Procedure. (a) Reflect for port 1 (b) Reflect for port N°2 (c) Thru (d) Line.

The spatial distribution of the electric field of prototype N°2 (Fig. 4a) was measured again following the established
protocol The results, depicted in Figure 6b, demonstrate a significant improvement, with a further reduction of the
standing waves superimposed on the measurement. Notably, the focal zone is no longer divided into two parts, as
previously observed in Figure 5b. The measurements now exhibit good agreement with the simulation results (Fig.
6a), particularly in terms of the -3dB width along the x-direction.

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(b)
(a) (b)
Fig.6:- Mapping of the normalized transverse electric field intensity in the plane defined by the propagation
direction (z) and the vertical polarization of the excitation (x): (a) simulated mapping and (b) Measured mapping.

From the intensities obtained in Figure 6b, we deduced the amplitude of the electric field (Fig. 7). This clearly
reveals wavefronts that, over a width smaller than the wavelength (along the x-axis), can be considered quasi-planar
over a distance of 2 or 3 wavelengths along the z-axis. This observation, combined with the strong intensity at the
focus, allows the phenomenon to be qualified as an electromagnetic jet according to the criteria given in [4].

Fig.7:- Measured amplitude of the electric field in the plane defined by the propagation direction (z) and the
vertical polarization of the excitation (x) at15GHz.

Based on the intensities shown in Figure 6b, the amplitude of the electric field was derived (Fig. 7). The results
distinctly reveal wavefronts that, over a width smaller than the wavelength (along the x-axis), can be regarded as
quasi-planar across a distance of 2 to 3 wavelengths along the z-axis. This behavior, coupled with the high intensity
observed at the focal point, meets the criteria outlined in [4] for characterizing the phenomenon as an
electromagnetic jet.

Conclusion:-
An open WR90 rectangular waveguide, operating in the frequency band from 8.2 GHz to 12.4 GHz, was studied to
generate an electromagnetic jet in the near field at 15 GHz.

Given the complexity of the structure under study, it must be fully modeled, starting from the empty waveguide,
passing through the matching tip, the loaded waveguide, and the PTFE tip, to observe what happens in the space
near the near-field zone. Due to the size of the model to be simulated, a study was conducted to balance
computational efficiency and accuracy. To ensure good convergence while minimizing computational volume,
Perfectly Matched Layer (PML) boundary conditions were employed, yielding satisfactory results.

Two prototypes were fabricated and experimentally tested. The major issue encountered was the perturbation of the
measurement by standing waves. To mitigate this issue, prototype N°2 was designed, removing connecting flange of
the rectangular waveguide. Additionally, the implementation of TRL calibration, alongside VNA calibration,
significantly improved measurement accuracy, leading to strong agreement between simulation and experimental
field mapping results.

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Through both simulation and experimental validation, we have demonstrated that an electromagnetic jet can be
effectively generated using a PTFE-loaded rectangular waveguide with an appropriately designed tip.

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